§ MR. HANBURYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, what modification, if any, has been made in the rule as to the pensions to veterans of the Crimean War and Indian Mutiny by which these pensions were limited to men in a state of destitution?
§ *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN, Stirling Burghs)The Chelsea Commissioners have been empowered to grant these campaign pensions to all who may be regarded as in necessitous circumstances. These circumstances vary with the locality in which the man may be living, so that a money limit cannot be rigidly fixed that will apply to all cases. The Commissioners have, however, been allowed to exceed the standard which they had formerly regarded as satisfying the requirements of the term "destitute circumstances." Of course the conditions as to length of service and character remain unaltered.
§ MR. HANBURYIn what way has that been made public, so that the men may know that this change has taken place?
§ *MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThey know it when they make their applications. I do not know that there has been any publication of the change. If a man applies now, he will get his pension under the existing conditions.
§ MR. HANBURYMy point is that the men are under the impression that none of these pensions will be granted unless the applicants are in destitute circumstances. It appears now that the War Office has considerably modified that regulation, and I ask the right hon. Gentleman, in the interests of these men, to make it public that this change has taken place.
§ *MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI will see what can be done, but the matter is more in the hands of the Chelsea Commissioners than in mine.